Antifungal potential and ecological perspectives of selected seagrass species from tropical coastal meadows

Seagrasses have gathered increasing attention due to their multifaceted ecological roles. Apart from their ecological significance, seagrasses have exhibited potent antifungal properties, indicating potential for diverse applications. The antifungal efficacy of methanolic extracts derived from five seagrass species ( Cymodocea serrulata , Cymodocea rotundata , Halodule pinifolia , Halophila ovalis , and Syringodium isoetifolium ) was assessed against pathogenic fungal strains using the agar well diffusion method. The methanolic extract from different seagrasses exhibited notable antifungal activity against Penicillium chrysogenum ( Cymodocea serrulata -19.5 mm Halodule pinifolia -19.9 mm Halophila ovalis - 10.3 mm Syringodium isoetifolium -9.6 mm). They exhibit least inhibition in case of Candida albicans ( Cymodocea serrulata -4.6 mm, Cymodocea rotundata -4.3 mm and Halodule pinifolia -6.5 mm). The findings unveiled methanolic extracts from seagrass Cymodocea serrulata , Halodule pinifolia and Enhalus acoroides at concentrations of 500 µg and 1000 µg, exhibited remarkable inhibition of almost all pathogens under study. The samples exhibiting significant antifungal activity were subjected to metabolite profiling using GC–MS. A total of 23 compounds were identified in the methanolic extract of seagrass Cymodocea serrulata , while 25 compounds were detected in the methanolic extract of Halodule pinifolia . This study lays the groundwork for developing bioactive natural products with applications in phytosanitary practices, offering the additional advantages of environmental safety and economic viability.